Here and Back Again

His eyes flicked open, the ceiling above him misted with brain-fog, but still very recognisable. Arkadius was laying down, on his bed not under the covers. He blinked a few times, clearing the mist in his brain, which reawoke with a startle. Within seconds, he was on his feet and standing behind his office desk, snarling to himself.
 
Arkadius. Talk to me. Please.
 
“Ida, can you not see I am in no mood to talk?” he responded, ending his statement by punching the desk with a clasped hand on the desk. This startled Ida, who had not seen him this distraught and angry. She, in her cat form, stood standing in the corner of the room, hiding away. I can see that, I am only trying to help.
 
“I appreciate that, but… ‘A word once given, cannot be broken’, that's the words she used. The. Exact. Words. That Sheryl said. But why should she be allowed to keep her word, while I am sent away unable to keep to mine, huh? How is that fair!”, another angry fist hitting the desk. Arkadius wasn't just angry with the world at this point, but he was also visibly upset. Tears had started to make their way down his cheeks. It was with this he grabbed a bottle of ink from the desk, and threw it at the wall.
 
Tell me everything. Walk me through what's making you feel this way, and what happened yesterday, perhaps I can offer some…
“Insight? Wisdom? Psh, please. You don't even know the half of it. And nor does Swan. This was all between me, Sheryl and Matthew.”
What was?
 
Arkadius started replying mentally back to Ida, his throat caught with the emotion, The promise. Sheryl had explained to us that one day she would return home. Understandably, neither me nor Matthew appreciated this all that much, so we foolishly promised that no matter what came between us whether it be Hell or Deity, that we would fight through any obstacle to bring her back. Thinking back to it, sure I acknowledge that it is entirely her own decision. But I… We made that promise with the best of intentions. We cared.
And? What's changed?
I… I failed. I failed her, I failed him and I failed myself. I failed.
Have you? Have you failed them? Tell me what happened yesterday. Maybe, I don't know, maybe it'll help you see you didn't fail after all.
 

---

I did my drop-off to Wendy as normal, and then made my way to the meeting point. We'd agreed where and when before. There was me, Sheryl of course, Wil, Mace, and BB. And I assume that they'd met this G’Lorth frog person before, his Royal Highness wannabe.
Be nice, Arkadius. This isn't like you.
 
Sheryl thanked us for being there, introduced us all, and explained she had already made arrangements with Aurelia, for the journey we were about to make. We were planeshifted to the Feywild, all of us plus Aurelia, apparently when you planeshift people, you… have to go with them. We all appeared nice and safe within the Feywild.
...Why do I not believe you?
 
We were safe! ...Well, we didn’t believe we were at the time, we believed we were plummeting out of the sky towards the ground. BB polymorphed herself and Aurelia into giant eagles, and I was skillful enough to glide down and manage my speed using my wings. Only… something didn’t feel right. I could hear giggling, but I couldn’t quite work out what it was. It took Wil to get a bit angry and grow some claws for whoever was casting the illusion to drop it and the wind that was blowing underneath us.
Interesting. Wil with claws. That must have been something to behold.
 
It was. It was very impressive. And I think we were all a little unnerved. Aurelia said something along the lines of “And this is why I bid you farewell”, then vanished. I was a little annoyed, but hey ho. We took a look around and spotted quite a few faeries around us, sitting on tree branches and the like. Some were intimidated by Wil, and some were Sat there mockingly “Ooh”ing at us.
What a capricious bunch. They are well known for, after all, their unpredictability, the Fey.
 
We started bickering amongst ourselves, something (likely Wil) someone said about the air triggered it all, I probably mentioned the plane of fire or air, and the faeries around us joined in. Some sort of informal vote ensued, which led to the majority of the faeries backing me.
You're persuasive. You stick to your guns. People like that about you.
There wasn't any persuading, Ida. Not really. But alas, it was a game for them like everything is. Which prompted G’Lorth the “oh so Magnificent”...
Arkadius.
...to “volunteer” us for another. Don't interrupt me, please. All of the faeries started shouting something about “Sardines”. Now, we assumed it was Wil. He likes to spend his time underwater after all, and then we started bickering again. This… Happens a lot.
Yes, it does. I've seen.
 
While we are… Distracted, the faeries all ran or flew off to a nearby river, still shouting about Sardines. When they reached the river, they all mounted up on… Actual Sardines. And jousted. Sheryl spotted our destination out in the distance, and started walking in that way, somewhat entranced. She asked us to follow, so we did.
 
A little while away, time is… Fluid there, difficult to measure time and distance, we started approaching a huge field of sunflowers. They were massive, they must have been about ten or twelve feet tall. BB of course was immediately under their spell, and rushed off ahead. Sheryl, ever being the smart one, took chase, as did Wil and Mace. Me and G’Lorth were a bit slower at approaching, and spotted the two figures stood facing each other just outside of the field before the others.
What were the figures doing? They can’t just be stood there, I assume they are fey.
 
Yeah, they weren’t. When we got closer, we realised they were playing this ridiculous game where they would slap each other’s hands, and then slap each other across the face. It was… weird. Anyway, we got to them, and they both offered to take us a different route, around the sunflower field. Apparently they are deadly (surprise, surprise), and of course BB wanted one. She was emphatically told “no” by everyone. This felt bad, I didn’t want to have to say no, but eh.
 
G’Lorth took the opportunity to take control of the situation, and the conversation. Both Glory and Glorious offered us different paths, scenic or through the battlefield. Both outbid each other for a few moments, before Glory came out on top, offering gold and boots. Glorious was a little disappointed by this choice, breaking down onto the floor. BB offered her a daffodil to console them, however their response was “So mundane”. I felt bad for BB.
 
Somebody said something, triggering Wil to ask the question, “What’s Pasta?”, to which Glory responded rather quickly “Everything that’s happened up to now”. The wit on that fellow, very amusing and very inspirational. If I ever head back to the Feywild, I hope to be able to catch up to them again.
 
Okay, so Glory took you through a battlefield. What was it?
We were told that it was used regularly, by various people. We were told that some people used it a while ago to just stare at each other for three days.
That sounds ridiculous. But also, given the context, utterly believable.
Sure. I’m not sure I do believe that, but whatever. Glory led us to a clearing within some trees, somewhat perfectly circular. Impressive. Wel, I was impressed until Glory turned to us and said “ah-ha!”, drawing a weapon. We were nonplussed, staring at him, causing him to say “I… said ‘ah-ha’!”. We still didn’t respond as he’d liked, but a figure stepped out from behind us. Someone who knew Sheryl for who she was, apparently, calling her “Merla”. This didn’t sit right with me, but it was only natural that perhaps Sheryl might choose to hide behind a facade away from her home. We all do, in one way or another.
That must have been quite a shock, but it sounds like you’ve adapted well.
 
We were at her home, not ours, so… I wasn’t going to complain. But this other being offered to use our name for her, which… slightly annoyed me more. I know he meant no disrespect, but Sheryl was our facade, not his.
Anyway. The Satyr offers to lead us to where we were headed, and shortly afterwards some deer darted past us. He was this was some kind of hunt, and we should participate. The faeries all mounted up, however I pointed out that perhaps a slightly… larger beast would be required. They denied this, and I snorted. Shortly before becoming 1 foot tall. STOP LAUGHING.
That is hilarious, I am sorry. Surely you have to see the funny side of that?
 
Anyway. We participate in the hunt, and do rather well as a team. We get three deer, which apparently will be used at the feast. Yay. We get to the feast, and we’re allowed to roam. My first thought is ‘where’s the booze’, before Wil interrupts me to exclaim “I’m off to go find a drink”. I immediately smile, and reply with a “Booze time!”, just as Sheryl asks someone to join him to look after him. I coughed to cover my previous statement, and say I will look after him. No doubt Sheryl knew what a mistake that was, but she didn’t stop me.
 
Both me and Wil explore for a little while, before we are offered a tankard each. We both drink, and really really enjoy it. Then wonder how we get more, just as our tankards refill themselves.
 
The real last thing I remember is approaching a circle of fey, with Queen Titania at the head, leaning on the tree. I remember Sheryl being pushed into the circle, and I remember her making this grand speech. I remember we did some weird special effects with all of our abilities, and then… I woke up here. I barely remember anything of the feast, but what I do know, deep down, is that Sheryl isn’t here anymore. She stayed there, in the Feywild.
 

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Well… it seems like you all had a fun time. So, uhh… Now that you’re feeling a little better, I think you should take a look at the desk. Right in front of you… I’m surprised you haven’t seen it already.
 
Arkadius raised an eyebrow, looking down at his desk. An inch away from the space where his clenched hand had hit the desk several times was an envelope, bearing the handwriting of Sheryl, the Fae-Touched.
 

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Arkadius was sat down at his desk now, holding the envelope in one hand and wiping the tears from his eyes, now flowing harder, with the other. If you had told me this was here ten minutes ago, I wouldn’t have wasted a perfectly good bottle of ink, he replied, the sarcasm evident in his words.
Is that all you can think about, a worthless bottle of ink?
Arkadius sighed, “Obviously I am making light of the situation, Ida. I thought that would have been obvious.”